In Focus: Some resources like schemes, initiatives and grants for women entrepreneurs in Delaware
#WomenEntrepreneurs #DelawareBusiness #WomenInLeadership #EntrepreneurshipSupport #FemaleFounders
Delaware, known as “The First State” is fast emerging as a supportive haven for women entrepreneurs, who are seeking to turn their business dreams into reality. With its strategic location, business-friendly environment & access to various resources – Delaware provides a fertile ground for women-led ventures to thrive and expand.
Women-owned businesses in Delaware have experienced significant growth over the past decade, particularly in industries such as healthcare, technology & education. Organizations like the Delaware Women’s Business Center (WBC) and SCORE Delaware offer tailored programs to empower female entrepreneurs through workshops, mentoring & networking opportunities. Moreover, the Delaware Division of Small Business and initiatives like the First State Community Loan Fund provide crucial financial assistance and guidance, are helping women overcome funding challenges.
Building Futures with State-wide Support
Delaware’s proximity to major business hubs, combined with its tax-friendly laws – offers unique advantages to female entrepreneurs. The state also actively recognizes the achievements of women entrepreneurs through events & award programs – fostering a culture of support and encouragement. Whether it’s accessing small business loans, participating in skill-building seminars, or building a network of like-minded peers, “The First State” offers a wealth of resources to ensure that women entrepreneurs not only succeed but lead the way in innovation and growth.
Here are some resources like schemes, initiatives and grants that are available for women entrepreneurs in Delaware.
Delaware Government Agencies
> State of Delaware – Division of Small Business
The Delaware Division of Small Business, part of the Delaware Department of State, is a service-focused agency that is committed to supporting businesses that are starting and growing in Delaware. Small businesses can reach out to the Division – for assistance in connecting to state resources and advice to succeed.
The Division is indeed a great partner for Delaware small businesses and is available to help take companies to the next level.
> State of Delaware – Office of Supplier Diversity
The Delaware Office of Supplier Diversity enhances economic opportunities – for minority, women & veteran-owned businesses as well as small businesses of a specific size and assist them in competing for contracts with State departments, agencies, authorities, school districts, and higher education institutions.
The Business Resource Portal provides a full range of assistance including – help with business planning, accessing capital, becoming a state of Delaware vendor & applying for Minority Women Veteran Business Enterprise (MWVBE) certification.
> Delaware Small Business Administration – SBA
The Small Business Administration’s Delaware district office provides a number of services including – funding programs, counseling, federal contracting, certifications & disaster recovery. They can also connect you to partner organizations, lenders & other community groups that help small businesses succeed.
The Delaware District Office in Wilmington serves the entire state of Delaware.
https://www.lisamasiello.com/women-entrepreneurs-start-a-new-business-in-delaware
Delaware Agencies & Non-profit Organizations
> Women’s Business Center at True Access Capital
The Women’s Business Center at True Access Capital (WBC) provides assistance – like in-depth, outcome-oriented business services to women entrepreneurs. WBC training includes courses on – business planning, business financing, social media and marketing. So, all WBC clients have the opportunity to network with and learn from successful women business owners, including participation in “work-life balance” seminars many times each year.
And through its partnership with True Access Capital, the WBC provides access to business capital for women business owners. As an official SBA Resource Partner, the WBC also partners with SCORE, the Small Business Development Center, and other State agencies to help ensure the success of women and entrepreneurs.
> Stand By Me – Minority Small Business Program
The Stand By Me Minority Small Business Program helps minority entrepreneurs in useful ways like – to improve the way they do business so they can be a positive force in the community.
And, entrepreneurs who are accepted into the Stand By Me Minority Small Business Program receive no-cost coaching & support services – to help them achieve their business goals.
Entrepreneurs work with an experienced business coach, who mentors them for the duration of the program. Coaches offer many services like – financial guidance, new perspectives, creative insights, and proven processes to help them achieve their goals. Coaches help participants qualify for minority business certifications – which opens doors to special training, access to grants and government contracts & potential business partnerships.
Minority Small Business entrepreneurs work in varied industries and represent communities throughout New Castle, Kent & Sussex counties.
Plus, special monetary incentives are available to entrepreneurs, who meet or exceed program goals. It is reassuring to know that in the past, Barclays and United Way of Delaware have given high achieving participants grants aimed to help grow business revenue.
> Delaware Small Business Development Center (DSBDC)
The Delaware Small Business Development Center (DSBDC) delivers training programs and free professional consulting services – to help innovators, startups & existing businesses (with 0-500 employees) formulate and execute strategies to grow and succeed.
The focus of the Center, a unit of the University of Delaware’s Office of Economic Innovation and Partnerships (OEIP) – is to develop and support entrepreneurship throughout the State of Delaware by working one-on-one with clients to understand your needs and assist you in a path forward. Services include – business planning, financial services, marketing services, cybersecurity & technology innovation.
The SBDC is the only statewide, nationally accredited program that provides high quality one on-one consulting, training & information resources.
> APEX Accelerator Delaware (formerly PTAC of Delaware)
The Delaware APEX Accelerator Center (formerly the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)), was first established by Congress in 1985 – to advise and counsel for-profit businesses on marketing and selling their products and services to the Department of Defense and other Federal and State government agencies.
APEX of Delaware offers no-cost advisement services – to businesses physically located within the State of Delaware that have been established 2 or more years and are procurement-ready – to sell their products and services to government agencies and government prime contractors.
The APEX Accelerator is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Department of Defense.
> Delaware Manufacturing Extension Partnership (DEMEP)
What Delaware Manufacturing Extension Partnership (DEMEP) does is that it provides solutions – for manufacturing companies, healthcare and service providers & the government.
The organization is a federally and state-funded non-profit, committed to helping Delaware’s manufacturers improve their global competitiveness.
For 20+ years, they have provided services – that enable Delaware firms to acquire and apply technologies, utilize new resources, reduce waste, streamline processes & also drive sales growth.
Programs include – supply chain optimization, building a lean manufacturing enterprise, quality management systems, analytical tools for statistical approach & process improvement, top line growth or business growth, and energy savings analysis and audit.
https://www.lisamasiello.com/women-entrepreneurs-start-a-new-business-in-delaware
Funding – State and Federal Sources
> U.S. Small Business Administration
Here you can get loans, investment capital, disaster assistance, surety bonds, and
grants to start and grow a business as well as to recover from a disaster.
> Horn Entrepreneurship: Blue Hen Proof of Concept Program
The University of Delaware (UD) Blue Hen Proof of Concept Program (BH-POC) is specially designed – to provide financial support and entrepreneurship training during initial technology commercialization activities of researchers and inventors across campus.
The program aids in building prototypes and proving technology concepts, validating that the technology will meet customers’ needs and wants & developing a viable business case to secure additional funding opportunities.
And how much of grant-based funding is available? It is available at a maximum of $50,000 for projects leveraging University of Delaware-owned IP or a maximum of $10,000 for all other projects. These funds are used to build and test the validated minimum viable product or prototype, for which customers would pay; and these funds are also used to drive towards the next funding opportunity, especially through SBIR/STTR grants, VentureWell E-Teams grants or other gap funds/training programs.
> True Access Capital
What is special about True Access Capital is that it is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that empowers business owners & entrepreneurs in Delaware and southeastern Pennsylvania, especially women, minorities & those who are underserved by traditional lenders, with technical expertise & access to capital.
Tracing back, True Access Capital was founded in 1991 as First State Community Loan Fund, formed with the goal of providing loans and business advice to community-based organizations and entrepreneurs in low-income communities throughout Delaware.
https://www.lisamasiello.com/women-entrepreneurs-start-a-new-business-in-delaware
> Amber Grant
WomensNet helps you find real grants, loans, and other funding for your small business and therefore, has provided Amber Grant. So, if you’re serious about getting your business to the next level, you’ll find this a key resource and a great help.
They give away three $10,000 small business grants every month So, this is a great place to start – Amber Grants for Women. Business women from Delaware (and all across America) are eligible to win these grants. The judges award a trio of $10,000 grants every month – and if you win, you’re automatically a finalist for one of our three $25,000 year-end Amber Grants.
And giving a women-owned business $35,000 in total grant money would indeed be an
amazing game-changer. So, do act NOW!!
https://ambergrantsforwomen.com/business-grants-women-delaware/
> 83 Women Grants for Delaware
These are grants for women entrepreneurs, seed money to individual women, college grants for women, small business grants for women, enterprise grants and grants for minority women.
https://delaware.grantwatch.com/cat/39/women-grants.html
> DSB Incentive Programs
EDGE Grants provide matching grants to young Delaware small businesses through a competitive selection process.
And what are the plus points? Twice a year, five STEM-based companies can each receive up to $100,000 for eligible expenses, and five businesses in the Entrepreneur category can get up to $50,000 each. The EDGE Grant Competition is the Division’s flagship funding program.
DSB’s Workforce Training Grant is a matching program that funds specialized training for companies of up to $100,000 per project. The training can be used to raise the skill level of (or upskill) your existing workforce.
Delaware’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) are a set of programs – aimed at providing access to capital for small and early-stage businesses, particularly those in underserved areas. To elaborate, the Division will work with financial lending partners to distribute SSBCI funds through four programs – two of which support small business loans: Delaware Loan Participation Program and the Delaware Capital Access Program (DCAP), and two which support start up and early stage businesses: The Accelerator and Seed Capital Program and the Early-Stage Venture Capital Program.
Avtar Madan
Himanshu
Shree Lahiri
